The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, through a global manhunt operation dubbed Operation Predator, announced the recent bust of 255 suspected child predators after about five weeks of sting operations. The agency further reports that in the year’s first half alone, they have managed to nab 1,674 suspects for a range of criminal offenses, from rape and molestation to production and distribution of child pornography.
These numbers, along with about 10,000 alleged predators nabbed in the last decade, seem too alarming to be true. But considering what some feel may be a rise of child predators in the Internet, the agency may have just barely scratched the surface. This should also be a wake-up call for parents to be vigilant about the online sites their children look into when alone. Whether in New York or Houston, the fourth most populous city in Texas, check your child’s online activity for evidence of contact with sexual predatory sites, and if you see signs that someone is taking advantage of your child’s innocence, address the situation immediately by calling the authorities. To help facilitate your lawsuit after the perpetrator is apprehended, call a dependable Houston sex crimes attorney for help immediately. If, however, you find that you’ve been accused of online solicitation of a minor, online harassment, child pornography or some other sex crime involving the internet, you shouldn’t waste any time: Find a criminal defense attorney experienced in sex offenses as well as online technology (including social media sites such as Facebook, Vine, Tumblr, Twitter and others) to advise you about your rights and how to preserve crucial evidence.
The US-ICE also pointed out that their agents have rescued over 60 alleged child victims internationally, and have charged suspected predators—from Indonesia to the Netherlands, including the US—with multiple counts of sexual crimes ranging from online sexual enticement of minors to promotion of child pornography. Under Texas law specified in the Texas Penal Code section 43.26, the crime of child pornography falls in two classes: possession of child porn and the promotion of the same. Simply possessing child pornographic materials could result in charges even if the accused person had no role in the creation or distribution of sexually graphic materials.
This can be positive news for families who fear the dangers of exposing their children to alleged predators. For those accused of such crimes, you should obviously consult the best Houston sexual assault lawyer you can find.
One of the important safeguards a parent does for their kids who constantly surf the Internet is to make sure that the SafeSearch option on their computer is turned on at all times. Google’s SafeSearch feature helps filter sites with inappropriate content and eliminates them. Though not always 100% foolproof, the technology works to screen phrases, keywords, and URLs to control sexual abuse images online.
As online technology advances, law firms like Scheiner Law Group, P.C., use powerful awareness tools, technology, and manpower to gather information and evidence to help protect families and protect the rights of those accused.